Marrying & sponsoring a Filipina working in Taiwan

[jrsmith]

I'm wondering what the best way to go about doing this would be. I am planning to civilly marry my fiancee at a Taiwanese marriage registrar. Is there anything I need to be aware of if I try and sponsor her and the Philippine government doesn't know about it (as it was performed by Taiwanese authorities)?

 

[surleplateau]

Is she considered "married" in the Philippines? I know it's next-to-impossible to get a divorce there.

Whatever her status in the Philippines, don't lie or hide it from CIC.

 

[jrsmith]

She was never married. I was married before. We're now divorced.

 

[sashali78]

She was never married. I was married before. We're now divorced.

Legally, there is nothing wrong with you two marrying in Taiwan, CIC does recognize that. Its all a matter how local Manila CIC office will look at this marriage due to the strict religious Catholic culture of the country. You may want to ask your question on Manila thread on this forum, perhaps people there can be of more help.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/new-manila-visa-office-philippines-spousefamily-timeline-t325837.1935.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spouse-family-class-timeline-manila-visa-office-philippines-t40680.65505.html

 

[jrsmith]

I don't think those threads will apply as I would be selecting to have my application processed through Hong Kong. Would Filipino authorities need to be involved at all?

"If your spouse is residing in a country other than the country of their nationality, you can pick which of the two visa offices you want" from here: canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

 

[canadianwoman]

CIC will decide for themselves which visa office to send the application to, no matter what you decide. I would guess Hong Kong would be chosen because she is resident in Taiwan, but they could pick her country of citizenship.
However, your marriage will be recognized. The visa office is in Manila, but they follow Canadian law. She hasn't been married before, so is free to marry you.

 

[sashali78]

I don't think those threads will apply as I would be selecting to have my application processed through Hong Kong. Would Filipino authorities need to be involved at all?

"If your spouse is residing in a country other than the country of their nationality, you can pick which of the two visa offices you want" from here: canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html

As canadianwoman mentioned, you no longer have the ability to choose visa office for processing of your application. Theoretically either HK or Manila can be chosen, however, HKVO is already overloaded recently due to the closure of Beijing VO (for spousal applications) and since she is a philippino citizen I would actually guess it would go to Manila

 

[jrsmith]

Thanks to everyone who responded! I have a much better idea now.